Energy Curiosities: Update 2016

"TransCanada Corp launches US $15 billion lawsuit against U.S. government for rejecting Keystone XL"

- Financial Post, January 6, 2016.

During Obama's term the U.S. constructed some 10,000 miles of pipeline.

Wind Turbines 1980's: Admired

Oil Wells 1930's, California: No Longer Admired

Wind Turbines Recent: Greatly Admired

U.S. solar developers are luring cash at record rates from investors ranging from Warren Buffett to Google Inc. (GOOG) and KKR & Co. by offering returns on projects four times those available for Treasury securities.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) together with the biggest Internet search company, the private equity company and insurers MetLife Inc. (MET) and John Hancock Life Insurance Co. poured more than $500 million into renewable energy in the last year. That's the most ever for companies outside the club of banks and specialist lenders that traditionally back solar energy, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance data.

Wind Turbine Bird Kills: In 2011 the Los Angeles Times reported such bird kills amounted to 440,000 annually. Not Widely Published

Oil-Coated Birds: Widely Published

Lenin Finally Topples

Pipeline Right Of Way, Pennsylvania: Very unpopular

Permitted Way of Transporting Crude Oil

Train Wreck Alabama

Train Wreck February 2015: New, Stronger Oil Tanker Cars

"Crude oil hauled by rail needs to be shipped in stronger tanker cars and on safer routes, transportation investigators in the U.S. and Canada said following a series of accidents in North America."

- Bloomberg, January 23, 2014.

Pipelines 2,500,000 Miles Can't All Be Wrong

By way of perspective, the length of proposed Keystone pipeline amounts to 1,179 miles.